New saltwater set up

[Dave1993]

I am new to the forum finding it a little difficult to use at the moment. I have 3 years experience with freshwater but I am now 5 weeks into my first SW tank. I have a strange hitchiker on a rock that I need id for. Also a couple of pieces of LR have gone a very dark red almost black it doesn't scrape off the rock but I'm pretty sure it's not corralline algae. I would upload pictures of I knew how too. If anybody can help with my tank or to use this forum it would be much appreciated.

[gone fishin]

Hi Dave for pictures most folks will use a photobucket account then upload with the yellow mountain icon when making a post

[gone fishin]

The link may help with the pictures. it is in the photography forum.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333197

[Dave1993]

Thank you I will try and do that now.

[Dave1993]

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t653/Dave2901/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsndyz1c4h.jpeg (http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/Dave2901/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsndyz1c4h.jpeg.html)

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t653/Dave2901/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscrlcc6tf.jpeg (http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/Dave2901/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscrlcc6tf.jpeg.html)

[Dave1993]

I can take more pictures but that is one of the rock colourisation and one of the unknown hitchiker

[T Haynes]

You're live rock looks very dry. Hopefully you didn't get scammed. Hopefully the color change is build up of bacteria. No clue on the hitchhiker from that photo

[Dave1993]

It's only in that area where the rock has turned dark. All other pieces are growing nice corralline feather dusters etc

[Dave1993]

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t653/Dave2901/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsrppl7itx.jpeg (http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/Dave2901/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsrppl7itx.jpeg.html)

This an example of what majority of rock in tank looks like. Lights off at moment so just found it a bit strange that I had some going a very dark colour.

[gone fishin]

I can't tell what the darkened areas are. May be just the rock maturing. As far as the hitchhiker I don't know for sure. Maybe some sort of sponge. There are a couple folks on here that are pretty good at ID's, hopefully they will stop in.

[theatrus]

Hitchhiker is probably a sponge. What does it feel like? Does it react to touch? :)

[Dave1993]

When I touched it it was hard but with the slightest layer of slime didn't move when I touched it though.

[T Haynes]

Ok that last pic looked a lot better lol

[Dave1993]

Thanks for all the information given I appreciate it. Not sure about the hitchiker still though.

[Heatherabel3]

The dark spot looks like the remains of a coral skeleton to me.

[Dave1993]

Are you referring to the blob in rock or the dark spot as in the rock that has turned dark ?